wildlife Monitoring program-2015

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For establishing trends (see below),the metrics from dragonfly and damselfly surveys are the total species encountered and the total number of individuals seen. Frogs and Toads Frog and toad monitoring will be conducted or supervised by people able to distinguish the calls of species present at the site. Species most likely to be encountered at the Nelson Wetland are American toad, Gray tree frog,Spring peeper,Wood frog, Green frog, Cope's gray tree frog, Northern leopard frog, and Western chorus frog. Several field guides are available to identify frogs and toads. Since breeding calls (excepting in tree frogs)generally are made in or near open water,one sampling location was established at the north end of the wetland (Exhibit 1). For field identification,AES suggests the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America(Collins and Conant 1998). Since the identification of frogs and toads will be based on calls, it is also important to know each species' call. The Wisconsin DNR maintains a website with descriptions and call recordings for each species found in the state (WIDNR 2014). These are the same species encountered in the Twin Cities region. Surveys generally use the Minnesota Frog and Toad Calling Survey method (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering/frogtoad survey/index.html). Frogs and toads vocalize vigorously after sunset, but also call in early morning, during cloudy weather, and even in the middle of the day(especially Western chorus frogs). Surveys are done in the breeding season (April 15-July 10). The surveyor proceeds to the sampling point,which usually causes frogs and toads to stop calling. The surveyor waits 5-10 minutes for calling to begin again,while completing the general form items and weather information. Frog and toad calling locations are noted and drawn on the map using a four-letter code for the common name. Listening and mapping should continue for ten minutes. For establishing trends (see below),the metrics from frog and toad calling are the total species encountered and the total number of individuals seen. 2.5 Data Management, Analysis and Reporting Data Management After each sampling event,field data forms are labeled sequentially, scanned, and archived as hard copy in a binder and as a pdf on a computer. Pertinent data from the forms are entered in a spreadsheet and each subsequent year of data added. Data Analysis and Summarization The monitoring at Nelson Wetland will generate data to analyze trends in wildlife populations. Sampling events for pre-restoration baseline data will be compared to the average of two years of post- restoration data. Differences between baseline and post-restoration data will be identified and visualizing in graphs. Trend Detection The metrics to assess habitat quality and quantity and to measure change in wildlife populations are: • Total Individuals—The number of individuals observed in a sampling event; • Total Species—The number of species present; 51Page